Your Child’s First Dental Cleaning: What to Expect

Beginning with the eruption of their first tooth, Toothworks recommends your child start to see the dentist twice a year. Our Ontario dentists explain what to expect from your kid's first dental cleaning.

Your child should start to see the dentist regularly around the age of one. However, their first dental cleaning will probably not happen until a little later, once most of their baby teeth have emerged. 

This is why the initial cleaning is usually performed during their toddler years when a kid is between the ages of 12 and 36 months. At this point, your child's dentist will be able to detect and remove plaque and tartar buildup before they become a serious problem.

Preparing Your Child for Their First Dental Cleaning

It's important to spend some time talking with your child about what will take place before the first cleaning visit happens. Talk to children about the significance of keeping their teeth healthy, and describe what the dentist will do in language that is suitable for their age and stage of development.

You might want to try and keep it basic. Providing too many details may cause your youngster to get concerned. Most of the time, we recommend that parents say something along the lines of this:

"The dentist is going to look at your teeth, count them, and make sure they are healthy and strong. The dentist’s name is Dr. Doctor. They are nice!"

If your child is already worried about going to the dentist, try to avoid using unpleasant words and phrases around him or her. However, even if you use softer language to describe the discomfort, such as terms like "not too bad" or "only a little," words such as shot, pinch, and needle are likely to stick in the mind of your child.

If dentist appointments are a source of worry for you, try not to express your feelings to your kid during the session. When it comes to responding to new experiences, they look to you for direction. If you appear to be concerned, they will be as well.

During the Appointment

We encourage you to speak with us in advance and tell us a little about your child's personality. Do they tend to be afraid or rebellious when confronted with unknown situations? Does your child have any attachment or developmental concerns that we should be aware of and address during the appointment?

The more information we have, the more we will be able to cater to your child's requirements and ensure that they receive the care that they require.

At the beginning of the session, we will inspect your child's teeth, jaws, gums, and bite to ensure that they are in good health.

In addition, we will use specialized devices to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, exactly like we do with adult patients.

We will present recommendations for correct brushing and flossing techniques. Whether your child washes and flosses his teeth or you still do it for them, it never hurts to get a refresher course on the subject.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have concerning your child's oral health or any impending dental treatments during the visit.

Following the completion of the exam and cleaning, we will schedule any required follow-up visits. Also, if you like, we may schedule the next cleaning and checkup session sooner if necessary.

Is it time for your child's first dental cleaning? Contact a Toothworks location near you to book an appointment.